Dispenser for roll paper



Sept. 20, 1966 H. R. EDER 3,273,773

DISPENSER FOR ROLL PAPER Filed May 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I0 4 /6 54 2a 1 't'l. calms 51737;" I. III- a 7a 0 2 6 76 (w 76 I I I.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,273,773 DISPENSER FOR ROLL PAPER Harold R. Eder, 1234 Seminole St., Clearwater, Fla. Filed May 26, 1965, Ser. No. 458,863 9 Claims. (Cl. 22517) This invention relates to improvements in dispensers for rolls of paper toweling, toilet paper, wax paper, aluminum foil, and the like.

One object of this invention is to provide a dispenser for roll paper having severing means above and below the plane in which paper is dispensed so that a user may sever the desired portion by either an upward tearing motion or a downward tearing motion.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispenser having grasping means adjacent the point at which the paper is dispensed for grasping the continuous sheet of paper so that serrations in the paper may be used to remove a desired portion Without the use of additional severing means.

It is another object of this invention to provide an externally visible signalling means for indicating the amount of paper remaining in the dispenser.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dispenser for roll paper which may conveniently be fitted over a pre-existing conventional holder.

'It is another object of the instant invention to provide a dispenser for roll paper which may be aifixed to a wall Without requiring the removal of any portion of the wall.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a dispenser for roll paper which may be used with paper having preformed transverse serrations or the like and with paper having no such transverse areas of weakness.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction and use, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the dispenser of the instant invention installed on a wall over a preexisting paper holder;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIGURE 1, the pre-existing paper holder having been deleted for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device of FIGURE 1 taken along line 3-3 thereof and viewing in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment of FIGURES l to 3, taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and viewing in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view of the dispenser of FIGURES 1 through 4, taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1 and viewing in the direction of the arrows, the pre-existing paper holder having 'been deleted for purposes of clarity; and

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the latching device of the instant invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters indicate like elements throughout the several views thereof, there is indicated generally at 10' a paper dispenser made in accordance with the instant invention mounted on a wall 12 by attachment means indicated generally at 14.

Attachment means 14 comprises a rectangular framework 16 having an inner flat surface 18 through which frictional fastening means such as screws 20 or mastic may be placed for securement with wall 12. Framework 16 also comprises an outwardly facing ornamental molding 22 and an inwardly facing shoulder 24 for the reception of the inner edges of a dispenser casing indicated generally at 26 as shown in FIGURE 3. It should be noted that attachment means 14 forms a large central opening which may receive an existing paper holder 23, to obviate the necessity of removing the old holder.

Dispenser casing 26 comprises a top wall 28, a front wall 30, a right side wall 32, a left side wall 34, and a bottom wall 36, the walls being arranged to form a rectangular box having an open back.

The lower edge of framework 16 carries a downwardly and outwardly facing tongue 38 having a centrally disposed aperture. A pair of bifurcated tongues 40 having centrally disposed apertures are secured to the rearward edge of bottom wall 36 for engagement with tongue 38. A pivot pin 42 aligns the centrally disposed apertures of tongues 38, 40 and provides the last element of the pivotal connecting means between casing 26 and framework 16.

A latch means indicated generally at 44 provides for the releasable connection of casing 26 to the upper portion of framework 16. Latch means 44 comprises a resilient spring member 46 secured as at 48 to the underside of the upper portion of framework 16 as shown in FIGURE 5. Spring 46 provides an outwardly extending downwardly turned section 50 and an aperture 52 located therebehind on a flat segment of spring 46. As shown in FIGURE 6, pivotally secured to top wall 48 of casing 26 is a release handle 54 comprising a downwardly extending pin 56 for engagement with aperture 52 of spring 46 through an aperture 58 in upper wall 28.

Handle 54 is pivotally secured to upper wall 48 by a screw 60 which threadably receives a spring 62 which biases the rearward end of handle 54 upwardly and the pin-carrying portion of handle 54 downwardly. In the operation of latch means 44, handle means 54 is raised to disengage pin 56 from aperture 52 of spring 46 thus allowing casing 26 to pivot about pivot pins 42. In latching casing 26 to the upper portion framework 16, casing 26 is rotated in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG- URE 5 so that pin 56 becomes coaxial with aperture 52 with spring 62 creating the biasing forces necessary to effectuate engagement.

Secured to the inner surface of Wall 30' and spaced a convenient distance apart are a pair of inwardly extending arms 64 providing an L-shaped slot 66 on the end thereof for the convenient reception of a pair of bosses 68 which carries a spindle 70 on which is mounted a roll of paper 72.

Sidewalls 32, 34 provide a pair of centrally disposed, vertically oriented, transversely aligned slots 74 in which reside a transverse bar '76 having a pointer 78 on the end thereof. As seen in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5, transverse bar 76 rests on the upper surface of roll 72 with indicia 80, as shown in FIGURE 2, being provided to indicate externally of casing 26 that the roll of paper 72 has been exhausted.

Indicated generally at 82 and secured to bottom wall 36 is a grasping and severing means for dispensing the desired amount of paper. Grasping means 82 comprises a tension plate 84 having a forwardly inclined planar surface as shown in FIGURE 5 and an upwardly extending J-shaped section 86 on the end thereof extending through a transverse slot 87 in bottom wall 36. Secured to the inner side of bottom wall 36 adjacent transverse slot 87 is a pair of transversely spaced upstanding brackets 88 fixedly securing a support rod 90 therebetween. As shown in FIGURE 5, section 86 overlies support rod 90 with a U-shaped biasing spring 92 engaging the forward lower surface lower of J-shaped section 86 and the rearward shoulders of bracket 88 thus biasing tension plate 84 in a downward direction.

Grasping means 82 also comprises a transverse rectangular frame 94 which is pivotally mounted on the long axis of casing 26 by eoacting braces 96, pins 03 and arms 100, as shown in FIGURE 4. The free end of rectangular frame 94 carries a snap-type fastener shown generally at 102 for engagement with a depending shoulder 104 on lower wall 36. Rectangular frame 94 may also include a centrally disposed opening 106 to provide a convenient means of access to the continuous sheet of paper as more fully explained hereinafter.

Pivotally mounted adjacent the forward edge of bottom wall 36 by pivot connections 108 is an L-shaped actuating member indicated generally at 110 having a rearwardly and downwardly disposed short leg 1'12 and 'a forwardly and downwardly disposed long leg 114 with pivot connection 108 connected at the juncture thereof.

In the operation of severing and grasping means 82 with a roll of paper having transverse serrations or other transverse areas of weakness a roll of paper 72 having a continuous discharge sheet 116 is threaded through transverse slot 87 rearwardly of inverted J-shaped section 86 and underneath tension plate 84 so that sheet 116 extends between the forward edges of frame 94 and tension plate 84. After the desired amount of paper has been withdrawn from dispenser so that a serration, such as indicated at 118, lies forwardly of grasping means 82 either an upward or downward tearing motion applied to sheet 116 will effectuate eparation of the continuous sheet along serration 118. A downward pull on sheet 116 will result in a tear along serr-ation 118 because tension plate 84 will substantially preclude further dispensing of sheet 116. An upward tearing motion applied to sheet 116 will result in the sheet contacting the forward edge of long leg 114 of L-shaped member 110. Since member 110 is pivotally mounted at 108 short leg 112 will engage tension plate 84 and press it downwardly thus precluding additional dispensing of sheet 116.

In the event that dispenser 10 is to be used with paper having no transverse serrations, a toothed cutting edge 120 is provided on the forward edge of rectangular frame 94 and a second toothed cutting edge 122 is provided on the forward end of long leg 114 of L-shaped members 110. In utilizing dispenser 10 with a roll of paper having no transverse serrations, a roll of paper is threaded to the dispenser as previously mentioned. After the desired amount of paper has been withdrawn from dispenser 10, a downward tearing motion effectuates separation of the paper since tension plate 84 precludes the additional movement of paper from the device. An upward tearing motion likewise effectuates separation of the desired portion of paper since L-shaped member 110 will be actuated into engagement with tension plate 84, likewise preventing further withdrawal of paper from casing 26.

It has been found that cutting edges 120, 122 may be used with a roll of paper having serrations, since the serrations produce a transverse area of such weakness that separation of the parts will be eifectuated along the serration rather than along the cutting edge.

As mentioned previously, frame 94 provides a centrally disposed opening 106 which is useful when utilizing non-serrated paper. Such non-serrated paper is normally somewhat firm, such as for example, wax paper or aluminum foil, and will be separated along cutting edges 120, 122 thus leaving no portion of strip 116 forwardly of grasping means 82 which may be conveniently grasped by .an individual. Opening 106 provides a means of ingress to the underside of strip 116 for feeding strip 116 forwardly so that it may be conveniently grasped and an additional portion withdrawn from casing 26.

Thus it is seen that there is herein provided a dispenser for roll paper which is adapted for use with either a serrated or a non-serrated roll, and which effects separation upon either an upward or a downward tearing motion.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved dispenser for roll paper which satisfies all of the .objects of the instant iI YfiJltion and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it will be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for a roll of paper comprising frame means for attachment to a wall providing an upper edge and a lower edge;

a rectangularly shaped casing having an upper wall, a forward wall, a bottom wall, and two lateral walls, carrying means for rotatably mounting a roll of paper within said casing, said bottom wall of said casing being formed with a transverse slot;

means pivotally mounting said bottom wall of said casing on said lower edge of said frame means;

means releasably connecting said upper wall of said casing and said upper edge of said frame means;

grasping and severing means secured on said bottom wall comprising plate means mounted on and underlying said bottom wall,

means biasing said plate means downwardly,

rigid frame means positioned adjacent and underlying said plate means and cooperating with said plate means for providing an area of discharge for said paper,

actuator means movably mounted on said bottom wall adjacent said area of discharge above said plate means for engaging said plate means for selectively precluding upward movement of said plate means.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises an L-shaped member having a first forwardly and downwardly extending leg, a second rearwardly and downwardly extending leg, and a junction of said first and second legs, pivot means connecting said junction and said bottom wall for movably mounting said actuator on said casing, said forward leg extending forwardly of said area of discharge, and said rearward leg extending rearwardly of said area of discharge.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said lateral walls form a substantially vertically disposed slot, said slots being transversely aligned, a transverse bar sildeably mounted in said slots providing a pointer externally of said casing.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises two lateral edges and a rectangular aperture for receiving a pre-existin g paper holder.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said rigid frame means provides an aperature whereby a user may have access to a portion of a roll of paper.

6. The structure of claim 2 wherein said forward leg of said actuator means carries a cutting edge.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein said rigid frame means carries a cutting edge adjacent said area of discharge.

8. A dispenser for a roll of paper comprising:

a frame for supporting the dispenser;

a casing, means rotatably mounting a roll of paper therein, the casing having a bottom wall having means defining a transverse paper passing slot;

grasping and severing means on the casing bottom wall including a plate mounted on and underlying the easing bottom wall;

means biasing the plate away from the bottom wall;

a rigid frame positioned adjacent, underlying substantially parallel to the plate and cooperating therewith to form an area for receiving an unrolled portion .of the roll, the termini of the plate and the rigid frame cooperating to provide an area of discharge for the unrolled portion; and

a pivotally mounted actuator on the bottom wall having a pair of legs coming together at a junction, the first leg extending beyond the area of discharge and forming a severing edge, the second leg contacting the plate adjacent the terminus thereof, the severing edge being spaced closer to the casing bottom wall than the discharge area allowing discharge of the paper through the discharge area in a plane including the discharge area and the receiving area.

9. A dispenser for a roll of paper comprising frame means adapted to be attached to a wall and including an upper edge and a lower edge;

an enclosed casing including a bottom wall having a transverse slot therein;

means for rotatably receiving a roll of paper within said casing;

means pivotally mounting said bottom wall of said casing on said lower edge of said frame means;

means releasably connecting said upper wall of said casing and said upper edge of said frame means;

grasping and severing means secured on said bottom wall comprising plate means mounted on and underlying said bottom wall,

means biasing said plate means downwardly,

rigid frame means positioned adjacent and underlying said plate means and cooperating with said plate means for providing an area of discharge for said paper, and

actuator means movably mounted on said bottom wall adjacent said area of discharge above said plate means for engaging said plate means for selectively precluding upward movement of said plate means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,110,657 9/1914 'Stearn et a1 225-84 X 1,389,003 8/1921 Huff 225-52 2,746,546 5/1956 Taylor 2 74 X 3,040,943 6/1962 Bump 22573 X WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

J. M. MESITER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSER FOR A ROLL OF PAPER COMPRISING FRAME MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO A WALL PROVIDING AN UPPER EDGE AND A LOWER EDGE; A RECTANGULARLY SHAPED CASING HAVING AN UPPER WALL, A FORWARD WALL, A BOTTOM WALL, AND TWO LATERAL WALLS, CARRYING MEANS FOR ROTATABLY MOUNTING A ROLL OF PAPER WITHIN SAID CASING, SAID BOTTOM WALL OF SAID CASING BEING FORMED WITH A TRANSVERS SLOT; MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID BOTTOM WALL OF SAID CASING ON SAID LOWER EDGE OF SAME FRAME MEANS; MEANS RELEASABLY CONNECTING SAID UPPER WALL OF SAID CASING AND SAID UPPER EDGE OF SAID FRAME MEANS; GRASPING AND SEVERING MEANS SECURED ON SAID BOTTOM WALL COMPRISING PLATE MEANS MOUNTED ON AND UNDERLYING SAID BOTTOM WALL, MEANS BIASING SAID PLATE MEANS DOWNWARDLY, RIGID FRAME MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT AND UNDERLYING SAID PLAT MEANS AND COOPERATING WITH SAID PLATE MEANS FOR PROVIDING AN AREA OF DISCHARGE FOR SAID PAPER, ACTUATOR MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BOTTOM WALL ADJACENT SAID AREA OF DISCHARGE ABOVE SAID PLATE MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID PLATE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY PRECLUDING UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PLATE MEANS. 